Let's Get Real
A few local companies who have done nothing but support us are the ones who will stand out in our hearts forever.
This might come off harsh but I am so sick of companies or people who don’t keep their word. Whether that be; locations promising you a great venue, working with others as a collaboration, to even a business not paying you as a sponsor. I have been blown away by the lack of professionalism PFF has had to experience.
You would think that being a small nonprofit in our community would protect us from the riff raff of bad business deals, but that is not the case.
I am of course not going to name names of those who have burned PFF but I will say it is very upsetting. My husband says, “you have to get everything in writing” and I see why. Over the past almost five years, the bullets we have had to dodge or things we have backed out of because they were a joke is appalling.
People say you always learn from every experience. What I can take away from those experiences that have left a bad taste in our mouth, is that not everyone is like that. When we do have an amazing company that keeps their word, goes above and beyond for us, we need to show them some love.
With the “bad” ones there are more good ones of course. A few local companies who have done nothing but support us are the ones who will stand out in our hearts forever. They are also successful in their own right and will last-unlike the faux companies/people.
So let’s show a little love to our rockstar companies:
I could probably go on and name a few more, but those are a hand full of the ones that have been a part of the PFF family for years or who have done more than we have asked of them. They are the ones who believed in us when we were a small barely existing nonprofit hoping to make a name for ourselves.
Thank you for your endless love and belief in our cause. If you do not know who these companies are I hope you will check them out!I don’t think any company intentionally was out to get us or cause the foundation unnecessary work, I just sometimes think people don’t know how to work with other businesses. The foundation exists solely from donations and company grants- we are still in business because of the companies listed above. We are a PUBLIC foundation, meaning we have to raise a certain amount and giveaway a certain amount. There are salaries, expenses, and bills to pay just like any other business.
Whether you are a for-profit or not for profit doing business with someone else - big or small, you must work just as hard as they are on the job. The foundation has had to put new rules and steps in place to protect us from phonys.
So lesson is and point of this post is to be respectful of all companies and people you want to collaborate with. Be upfront and honest on what you expect - and remember it is not personal it is business.
“Business opportunities are like buses, there’s always another one coming.”
– Richard Branson
Investing In Yourself
A few weeks ago I (Meghan) decided to attend The Workshop hosted by the Bloguettes.
What do you do to make yourself better?
A few weeks ago I (Meghan) decided to attend The Workshop hosted by the Bloguettes.
Prior to the workshop, I was asked by a friend to be a part of a Bumble Bizz panel. The group of women who I sat on the panel with were entrepreneurs, bloggers, fitness studio owners, and then myself. That night I met owners Sakura and Lorena. It was a fun panel to be on with other #girlbosses and to hear what kinds of struggles they go through or have gone through and how they got to where they are today.
I felt an instant connection to the women of the Bloguettes and wanted to learn how they had grown so fast in just a few years. It seemed like perfect timing to attend their Workshop held at Events on Jackson in early February.
During the two day event there were high powered CEO's from all walks of life and different careers, there to teach us how to be our best selves. They were there to teach us in different classes what we felt we needed to know. I took a course on how to "write a newsletter people give a f**k about" as well as how to "how to brand yourself in the digital age". From the adorable coffee truck in the morning (Gypsy Cup) to the braid bar at lunch by Hainsworth Hair & Co. There were even swings next to the lunch tables! It felt like we were at Disneyland-but for entrepreneurs.
No matter what time of day it was, you saw women mingling and talking to one another. Either about what they do for a living what they were hoping to get out of the event. Being able to walk up to anyone and instantly make a new friend is my favorite type of event. We all wanted to "learn the secret sauce" so whether we were from the same city or from out of town we wanted one thing. I met two girls from Canada, one sweet photographer from Dallas and a few local girls who all had one thing in common, to better themselves.
To have a reach like the Bloguettes do, it is impressive and something to not ignore.
What I learned...
We all were there to learn and absorb as much knowledge and information as we possibly could. I love our city and to see how every little detail was considered was inspiring. It makes me proud to be a Phoenician and that even us desert dwellers can host a great event...well the Bloguettes can at at least ;)
Having picked up some new tricks for PFF as well as for myself personally, I feel completed by the event. I believe we all need to remember to take those days and focus on you. Never forget what makes you jump out of bed in the morning and that it is okay to ask for help!
xoMeghan
Angels Around Us Committee
If you’re looking for a way to be involved with the Pearce Family foundation, we have a new request, we need more people to sit on our Angels Around Us committee.
Want to Help Families in AZ?
People always ask how they can help the Pearce Family Foundation, and my typical response is that we need help at events-so to volunteer would help. Today though, we have a new request, we need more people to sit on our Angels Around Us committee.
What is the Angels Around Us Committee?
Well, this is a group of a variety of people who look over the applications we receive from Phoenix Children's Hospital, Banner Cardon Children's Hospital and word of mouth of people needing help.
What does it mean to be on this Committee?
Honestly, not a lot. Whenever the foundation receives an application we send it to the committee and between those people they decide who will contact the family to find out what is going on. The Pearce Family Foundation receives on average about 8 applications a month, so it will take an hour out of your day maybe a week.
Is it Hard?
No, but it can be emotional hearing what these families are going through and that PFF cannot always help every time. You will read about families like yours and mine who have no where else to turn and if we don't help or another nonprofit assist they might be on the streets. BUT don't worry we always figure out a way to get them back on track.
Qualifications
Have a computer and an email
Work in a field that you understand medical conditions or in finance
Believe in PFF
Want to be a part of the decision making on who we assist
Can call families and ask questions on how they are in a hard financial state
Be available to the Pearce Family Foundation if we have questions
If you are interested and want to help us continue to make a difference please email Meghan at meghan@pfffarizona.com xo
Interns & Assistants
When I started the Pearce Family Foundation it did not occur to me that I (Meghan) would need to hire anyone. Why would I need an assistant? I can handle everything...UMM NOT (lol) since starting the foundation I have been fortunate to have now had 5 1/2 interns.First I had my sister Jessica Pearce help me with some of the first events (the Zebulon Pearce monument and Brew Something that Matters). I was so thankful Jess wanted to help since I was taking on a huge new business venture. Then the beautiful and smart Kylie Ray came to our PFF family after one of my good friends introduced us and it was a true blessing. Kylie ended up working with me for over 18 months and is one of the hardest working women I know.The next wonderful assistant/intern was Kylie Mudd who I met through Kylie 1 and I was again so thankful for her to step in when I needed her help the most. She was there during my wedding months and was my voice of reason when I thought I was going to loose it. (oh and I promise I do not hire just girls named Kylie).Then after I saw how fast we were growing and that I needed help at all times I found two amazing girls. Lindsay Cardoza and Kourtnie Martin became new team members of PFF and worked with me every week on every upcoming event. Neither of these girls were receiving class credit-they just did it out of the goodness of their heart. Kourtnie is studying entrepreneurial courses at GCU and now wants to work for PFF after college (YIPPIE). Lindsay in addition to all of her time working without credit hours is now receieving 12 credit hours to help her graduate in May.The moral of this story is that us #girlbosses need help and we need to ask for it. I wish I could handle every email, every family application, and every event but I can't. I am fortunate to have met like minded women who believe in our mission and want to learn from ME.So ladies- let others help you and don't forget that we are teachers in a way and should share our knowledge! xoxoMeghan 
We Have a BLOG!
Hello, Hi, Hola, Welcome...PFF has a blog!! After going through a few websites the foundation has finally decided to document all of the fun, different, unique, and special things we do here at the Pearce Family Foundation. Time to time we might have a guest writer- say one of our families we have helped or a special donor but most likely it will be from CEO & Founder Meghan Alfonso. ****************************************************************************************************************** Wow isn't it amazing how fast time goes by. When we were younger we wished time would hurry up and that we would be 16 so we could drive or that we would turn 18 so we could go to college. Then it was I cannot wait until I am 21...and now it is like, "wait it's my birthday again or Christmas is less than a month away". Time... it is something we can never get back but is monumental in decision making. I have been the CEO of the Pearce Family Foundation (PFF) for over 1,600 days and it feels like just yesterday when I got the guts to start a nonprofit. That day in July of 2013 the timing could not have been more perfect. I was jobless, could barely make my $1,000 rent, and was lost. I had worked at other nonprofits and after being beaten down too many times I just up and quit a job I thought I was going to be at until I was old and gray.Thankfully I swallowed my fear and followed my dreams of being my own boss. Living on my own time and not letting others tell me what I had to do and what my weekend plans were is something I hope to never loose. I will tell you that I work harder and longer hours now than I ever did before, but I am the happiest I have ever been.This will be a place to voice my opinion on events throughout Scottsdale and Phoenix as well as to give an inside look on what goes on at PFF. We are a grassroots nonprofit that believes in being the "life savers" behind the curtains. We are not saving cancer or doing any research but we are keeping families at their home and hopefully out of the hospital. The families we help sometimes do not have "time" on their side and needs someone to step in...which is where we come inWelcome and I hope you enjoy, xoMeghan PFF Angel